Pressure sealed coupling



DC. 1, 1942. T, J. HOY

PRESSURE SEALED COUPLING Filed Dec. 25, 1940 INVENTOR Thomas (ll-10y. 15-4 BY 6g ATTDRNEYE rim/ 6 Q 6 0 I w Patented Dec. l, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTuOFFlCE l 2,303,642 A rnassnnc sum cournmo Thomas J. Hoy, Newark, N. J.

Application December 23, 1940, Serial No. 371,219:

2 Claims. (01. 285-90) w This invention relates to couplings and, more particularly, the sealing by means of pressure of the coupling, or joint, in a line carrying fluid or gases under pressure.

In the past, devices of, this character, through wear of the gaskets used to seal the same, would leak after a certain amount of usage. Wear of the gaskets is generally taken up by use of adjusting nuts or springs which requires not only close inspection but additional labor to keep the coupling, or Joints, in a leak-proof condition.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a joint, or coupling, in a line carrying fluid orgases under pressure, which joint, or coupling, is sealed against leakage by means of the pressure carried in said line.

Another object of the invention is to provide a joint in a line carrying fluid or gases which is sealed against leakage by means of pressure, the joint being simple and inexpensive to produce and easy to assemble.

A further object of this invention is to pro-- vide a positive sealing means for pipe and hose couplings which comprises a metallic bellows responsive to the pressure in said pipe or hose and adapted to exert a force on the sealing surfaces of the coupling, or joint, proportional to the pressure.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.- 1

The above and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providing a joint, or coupling, in a line carrying a fluid or gas under pressure,

having a sealing gasket in one member of said J- coupling and adapted to bear against the other member thereof, a metallic bellows positioned within-one member of said coupling and responsive tothe pressure in said line, one end of said bellows bearing against one member of the coupling and the opposite end bearing against said sealing gasket, whereby pressure within said bellows will cause the same to exert force against the gasket, pressing the same tightly against the other member of said coupling.

The invention will appear more clearly from,

the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, showing by way of example an embodiment of the invention, together with a possible modiflcation' thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through the central portion of a ball and socket coupling embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of pressure exerting sealing means of this invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a hose coupling embodying theinvention, the members of said coupling being shown together; and I Figure 4 is a sectional view 'of a member of the coupling containing the pressure sealing means. Referring to Figures '1 and 2 of the drawing. the reference numeral l0 designates the socket member, and the numeral II the ball member of a-ball and socket joint for ,use in a pipe line or hose used for conveying a fluid or gas; I Y

The member III has screw threads .12 within a passage Illa adapted to receive a screw-threaded pipe, or hose, fitting on the reduced end thereof.

The opposite end thereof is enlarged to form a chamber l3 therein, a shoulder portion ll being formed betWeenthe enlarged and reduced portions of the member Ill. Adjacent the end of the enlarged portion of themember ill on the exterior thereof are threads 15.

Adapted to be positioned within the chamber I3 is a pressure sealing means comprising. bellows l6 adapted to be expanded by means of fluid or gases passing through the chamber l3 under pressure. Thebellows are, preferably, constructed of flexible metal, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, but, of course, may be constructed of hard rubber or any other suitable material. As shown in detail in Figure 2 of the drawing, one end of the bellows may be welded at I! to a washer l8 which is adapted to bear against the shoulder M. The opposite end of the bellows l8 may be welded'at 2| to the metal sheath [9 on a sealing gasket 20. It will be readily understood, however, that the bellows, [6 may be positioned between the shoulder II and gasket 20 without welding. In assembling the device of this invention, it has been found most convenient to weld the bellowsto the washer and gasket, so that the washer l8, bellows i6, and gasket 20 may be positioned in the chamber l3 as a unit.

The gasket 20 is adapted to bear againstthe outer surface 22 on the innermost end of the ball portion 23 on the ball member ll of the' joint. The ball member II has a passage 24- therethrou h, threaded at 25' to receive a pipe, or hose, fitting.

Positioned within the enlarged portion at the end thereof is a sealing gasket 26 adapted to bear against the surface 22 at the outermostend of said ball portion 23. r

An adjusting nut 21 positioned on the threads l5, and having an extension 28 bearing against portion to the pressure within the joint and line v to which it is attached.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing, a coupling for a hose line, comprising two members and 3|, adapted to be joined and disjoined is illustrated. One member 38 is screwthreaded internally on one end thereof at 32 to receive a hose fitting 33.

The member 30 is also screw-threaded internally at 34 to receive a cage 35 which is of lesser diameter than the inside diameter of the passage 36 through the coupling, the cage 35 having a screw-threaded flange 31 to engage the threads at 34 in the coupling. The flange 31 forms a shoulder 38 to which is welded at 39 one end of a metallic bellows 48. The opposite end of the bellows 40 is welded to a resilient sealing gasket 4| having a metal sheathed face 42. The gasket 4| has a recess 43 therein adapted to receive a flange 44 on the cage 35.

Thecage 35 has a passage 45 through the center thereof, the passage being in communication with the bellows 48 through the apertures 46a.

The members 38 and 3| of the coupling are locked together by means of locking bars 46 and 41. The locking bar 46 is pivotally mounted at one end in the projection 48 on the member 38, the other end being adapted to engage the projection 49 on the member 3 I Likewise, the looking bar 41 is pivoted in the projection 49 and engages the projection 48.

The member 3| is preferably constructed similar to the member 38 also being threaded internally at 5|) to receive a cage or seat 5| having a screw-threaded flan e 52. A metallic bellows 53 is seated on the shoulder 54 the opposite end being attached to a resilient sealing gasket 55 having a metal face 55. The gasket 55 has an annular recess 51 therein adapted to receive a flange 58 on the cage 5|. The bellows 53 are preferably welded to the metal face 56 on the gasket 55 and to the shoulder 54 so that the same may be readily inserted in the member 3|. It is possible, vhowever, to insert these parts in the member 3| independently if so desired. The

same is true of the bellows 43, cage 35. and gasket 4|. Apertures 53 provide a communication between the bellows 53 and the fluid pressure in the line.

Pressure in a line coupled by the members 38 and 3| acts upon the bellows 43 through the apertures 43a and upon the bellows 53 through the apertures 59 causing the bellows to expand toward one another in proportion to the pressure in the line. This action presses the sealing gaskets 4| and 5| into tight engagement preventing leakage in the coupling between the two members 38 and 3|.

It is apparent that the specific illustration shown has been given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that the structure above described is subject to a wide variation and modification without departing from the scope or intent of'the invention, all of which variations and modifications are to be included within-the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a pair of interlocking end members; a bearing shoulder formed in one of said end members, and a sealing member engaging the other one of said end members; of an intermediate, resilient, metallic bellows having one end engaging said bearing shoulder and firmly connected therewith, and another end firmly connected with said sealing member, said bellows normally being preloaded to exert pressure in opposite directions and being responsive to pressure or heat to increase the force exerted on said head and said seat, respectively, and restraining means for said metallic bellows for controlling and predetermining the forces exerted thereby.

2. In a coupling for a line for carrying fluid under pressure having a female end member having a bearing shoulder formed therein and a male end member, said male and member including a ball received within said female member, a gasket engaging said ball for retaining said male member in said female member, sealing means in said female member comprising another gasket adapted to engage the outer surface of said ball and a resilient bellows engaging said other gasket and said bearing shoulder, said bellows normally being preloaded to exert pressure in opposite directions and being responsive to pressure or heat to increase the force exerted on said female member and said sealing gasket, respectively, and an adjusting nut supporting the first-mentioned gasket and carried by said female end member. THOMAS J. HOY. 

